Telehealth Therapy Tips

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, telehealth therapy visits have become a convenient way to access mental health therapy services.  Telehealth utilizes a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platform to allow therapists and clients to connect without meeting in person.  We have partnered with Secure Video, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.

Telehealth may feel intimidating to those who don’t have much experience using technology.  Privacy might be a concern for some because of the worry that family members or roommates might overhear a session.  These potential barriers can be addressed and overcome with the following tips:

• Make sure you are in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed or heard.  This may be in a bedroom, home office, basement, a large closet or even in your parked car.

• If you live with others, choose the place ahead of time and ask others to respect your privacy and not interrupt you.

• Consider putting a white noise machine, small fan or speaker with music playing outside of the door to the room you will be in so others can’t overhear you.

• Whether you are using a smartphone, computer or tablet, make sure you have downloaded the app or program you will use in advance to access the telehealth appointment.  Check your email in advance to make sure you have the video link.  Also make sure the device you are using has a working camera and microphone and is fully charged.

• Consider using headphones or earbuds to improve sound quality and maintain privacy.

• If you are self-conscious about your appearance or distracted by seeing yourself on your device’s screen, put a small piece of paper over your image on the screen.

• Treat your telehealth therapy session as if you are meeting with your therapist in person.  Avoid engaging in tasks you wouldn’t normally do if you and your therapist were meeting in their office.

With the right steps and preparation, teletherapy sessions can be enjoyable and productive, even without an in-person meeting.